The basement of our homes is no longer a place for storage only. Throughout the years, we have assigned different jobs for the basement of our homes.We have fully remodeled it and use it as a living space for the family.It has come to be a playroom for the kids, an art room, a storage room and even office space for us.For some families, the basement has come to be a very nice furnished room for an older sibling where space in the upper floor is no longer possible.

Regardless of how and for what purpose you need to remodel the basement of your home, waterproofing it before remodeling it is the only alternative you have. You will be saving thousands of dollars by taking care of humidity, leaks, and water seepage problems before you remodel your basement.

Before you start looking for remodelers in your area, what are some of the clear signs to look for in case you have water damage in your basement?

• Water sitting on the floor

• Musty smell

• Condensation on the walls, ceiling or doors

• Cracks where the wall meets the floor

• Rust in appliances you have in the basement

• Dark spots on the walls or ceiling

Some of these problems have to do with water damage, but water damage in the basement can lead to serious problems with the foundation of your home as well.That in itself becomes a major problem that can get very expensive pretty quickly if you leave it unattended.

One of the many reasons to invest in your home and taking care of problems right away is the equity we build by holding unto our homes for a period of time.After the housing crash, there has been a decline in the constructions of new homes and the demand for first time home buyers is an all-time high.Not only will you be living in a beautiful home with no basement problems, but if you have any issues with water in the basement, taking care of it right away can increase the value and the quality of your home.

Contact usfor a hassle-free consultation to talk about your basement needs.We have a long history in the community with excellent customer satisfaction. Check ourBBB rating and customer testimonials to learn more about Pioneer Basement Solutions.

Basement waterproofing and foundation repair are not only for your home.If you are a business owner and own your business building, the basement of the building is your responsibility.Water seepage is a problem many homeowners and business owners face when dealing with their basement.And although it is very easy to ignore puddles of water on the floor in the basement of your home, that is not a very wise decision.Structural damages can occur to the home or business building due to the water finding a way into the basement.

If you have inspected the basement and are still unsure as to where the water is coming from, contact us.We are happy to talk to you and find a solution to the problem.No hassles, just call.

If you own or operate a business, there’s a good chance that you’ve tried to think of every conceivable thing you can to protect that business so it can grow and make more money each year. You’ve thought of all the marketing and budgeting concerns, you know how to attract customers and hire the best employees… but did you think about protecting the building itself?

If your business has a basement that you are responsible for then you should really consider making sure that it’s waterproofed. Water damage can cost a lot of money and may even force you to move if it’s not taken care of quickly. Here are a few reasons you should want to waterproof your business’s basement to protect your future.

Possible Structural Problems

The basement is the foundation of the building: if the basement floor or walls start to suffer, then there’s a good chance that the problems will spread to the rest of the building.

If you live in an area surrounded by moist soil, there’s a good possibility that water will seep into your basement. This can cause wooden beams to swell and crack and can also cause the concrete flooring to crack.

Q. During heavy rainfall I get water coming into the basement where the concrete floor meets the walls. Also, the concrete in the walls appears to have some flaking. What are my best options to fix this?

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A. Water in your basement can come from a lot of places. Many times it is due to a lack of gutters, improper ground sloping, clogged perimeter pipes, or hydrostatic pressure.

The first thing to check is the grading around the house and the gutters. Ensure that your gutters are not clogged and that they are draining well away from your foundation walls; 10 feet is my preference. Most folks I know do not like downspouts extending out far. If there is pavement in this area, make sure it slopes away. Correct it if it does not.

Foundations are a significant part of your new home construction budget. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages to different building methods can help you select the best option for your budget and lifestyle. Whatever type of foundation you choose, you will want to make sure it is properly built to avoid costly repairs down the line.

Full Basement – The most common type of foundation is the traditional full basement with 8 to 10 foot walls poured on top of concrete footings. Due to the volume of concrete required, this is the most expensive type of foundation to build.

With full basements, footings and slab are located 4 to 5 feet underground providing sufficient protection against freeze-thaw damage. Underground walls also allow for some natural climate control. A well-insulated basement will be cheaper to heat in the winter than a second story and will be cooler in the summer if you want to escape the heat.

This spring in Northeast Ohio and in some parts of the country has been a very rainy one. The flooding that accompanies these spring showers is something that as homeowners we do not want to think about too much. If the basement of your home have issues, the rain that may seep into the basement of your home is probably something that you are expecting, and a problem you might want to tackle right away.Leaving issues like water in the basement are serious enough for you to act right away, instead of postponing them and having larger issues and bills later on.

How many times have you heard someone dismiss foundation cracks as simply an old house that’s “settling”? Ignoring foundation problems such as cracks and uneven floors can lead to serious – and expensive – problems down the road.

Homes are built on dirt and, over time, that dirt will shift and settle. Clay, for example, will contract and expand depending on the moisture. Sand will erode after significant rainfall or flooding. Plus, the average home weighs 160 tons so that’s a lot of pressure on the dirt underneath your home, explains Michael Connolly, marketing manager for Lowcountry Basement Systems, which recently moved into the Charleston market.

“Problems don’t get better, they only get worse, and the worse they get the more expensive they will be to fix,” Connolly says.

Foundation issues can keep doors and windows from opening properly. Moisture can get into the house and create mold problems. Not properly repairing these issues can also make it difficult to sell your home down the road, he adds.

As the foundation beneath their home crumbles, Christina Mailhos and her husband are trying to figure out how to come up with $200,000 or more for the massive fix while college tuition bills loom for two teenagers.

But that is hardly the extent of her worries. As the top official in this small town, where hundreds of homes may have the same problem, she fears for her constituents’ financial futures and the local economy.

“If a tornado had hit, everyone would come and try to help, and they would bring you a casserole,” she said. “In this case, nobody realizes, and a lot of people are fearful to come forward and talk about it.”

A growing number of home foundations in central and northeastern Connecticut are failing because of the presence of pyrrhotite, a mineral that naturally reacts with oxygen and water. Over decades, that reaction can cause the concrete to crack and crumble, making some homes unsellable and unlivable.

The problem, which first came to light in the mid-1990s, has been traced to a Willington quarry that provided material to a concrete maker whose product was used in thousands of houses. The Connecticut attorney general has not pursued legal action against the company, saying it can’t prove violations of consumer protection laws.

Home renovation projects are a sure way to improve your living space, spruce up the home and increase the value of your home.Adding a room or a whole section to your home, requires capital and great companies to make the process less difficult. Obtaining permits, contractors, and financing takes a lot of the joy out of a home renovation project, but most often than not the whole process can give you a sense of accomplishment, and the extra room you were needing.

If you already have most of the contractors ready to go, the financing approved, and the permits are in your possession, now is the time to call your insurance agent, and talk about the new home insurance policy you are going to need. As the renovation goes, you need to keep the insurance agent informed of the progress.Accidents do happen and you need to be able to be financially covered if anything disastrous should occur.

Did you make sure the contractor or companies you hired have their own insurance coverage?

Accidents within your property may be catastrophic if you do not protect yourself.Before you allowed a contractor to start the work, make sure he has insurance coverage/liability insurance and workers compensation up to date before he starts.If they do not have the proper paperwork and an employee gets hurt, you can be sued for damages.

Receipts, contracts and any other pertinent information regarding the renovation should be kept within easy reach till the project is done, the insurance agent notified of all the changes, appraisals done and checked, and the construction is done to your specifications.Any receipt related to the construction should be kept filed and safe should any problem emerge.

Almost anyone that starts a renovation project have an idea of what they want. They want the extra space,a better kitchen, a bigger bathroom, or a new looking master bedroom. Regardless of what you want to do to your home, having an idea of what renovation projects will give you the most ROI can be financially advantageous for you.If you are selling your home, and want to get the most for your investment, there are many home renovation companies that clearly state the best home renovations projects for you if you are selling or only improving your home.

As always, inform yourself before starting hiring and signing documents for a project done in your home. If you need more information about Insurance coverage or any other insurance issues, go to the Insurance Information Institute to learn more.